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Veterans War Memorial repairs approved, and two other things to know from Tuesday's Cumming City Council work session

The Cumming Veterans War Memorial is expected to be repaired after incurring significant moisture damage over the past three weeks, according to city officials. The Cumming City Council originally voted Tuesday, April 16, 2019, to have the structure removed and preserve materials to be used for a new memorial at the proposed City Center.
- photo by Jim Dean

The Cumming City Council voted 4-0, with councilmember Lewis Ledbetter absent, to approve emergency repair costs
to the existing monument of the city’s Veterans War Memorial.

The cost of the repairs was still unknown, according to City
Administrator Phil Higgins, but they are on track to be completed by the city’s
Memorial Day ceremony on Friday, May 24.

The source of the damage was a lack of steel reinforcement
in the concrete slab of the main monument, Mayor Troy Brumbalow said, which
caused the structure to collapse in on itself during a recent period of heavy
rain.

The community reacted swiftly and negatively to the news of
the monument’s removal and the city reversed course, deciding instead to
repair the current monument while also moving forward with plans for a new one
at its City Center development when it opens.

The city has since repaired the current monument by pouring
a new concrete slab and covering the sides with stacked stone, Brumbalow said.

“It’s a band-aid,” Brumbalow said. “But we put it back
together.”

Assisted living
center to be built

Councilmembers approved 3-0, with councilmember Christopher Light
recused, the annexation of 3.10 acres on Sanders Road from the county and a
conditional-use permit to construct a senior housing/assisted living facility.

According to documents, Moss Walker Properties, LLC plans to
operate an “institutional living and care facility” with 20 memory care units
and 60 assisted-living units, which must be built within 36 months.

Auto shop annexed
into city

Councilmembers approved unanimously to annex approximately
an acre of land from the county to the city that includes a hobby garage and
mechanic’s shop at 805 Dahlonega Highway.

The land, which is owned by the Mashburn Family Trust, will
be zoned Restricted Industrial (M1).